New deaths from MERS virus reported in the Gulf

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — Health authorities in the capital of the United Arab Emirates say a woman has died from a SARS-like virus that has been centered in neighboring Saudi Arabia.

The health authority in Abu Dhabi reported the death of the Jordanian woman from Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or MERS, on Tuesday. Her husband and son have also contracted the virus. It says they are in stable condition.

The World Health Organization said in a separate statement issued Monday that two other patients confirmed to be suffering from MERS in nearby Qatar have also died, on November 19 and 29.

The WHO’s Monday statement said there have been 70 deaths from MERS, mostly in Saudi Arabia. The virus is related to the SARS virus, which killed about 800 people in 2003.